Video Doorbell Shopping Guide: Questions to Consider Before Buying

Video doorbells. If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all right? Wrong! Like all important purchases, there’s a lot to consider when shopping for a front door security camera. Here are the questions you should be asking before you buy.

What is the best video doorbell?

There are many video doorbell options available for consumers today including — Ring Video Doorbell, Guardian Protection Video Doorbell Pro, Eufy Security Video Doorbell, RemoBell Video Doorbell, Arlo Video Doorbell, and others. Many believe the best video doorbell is one that is reliable in extreme weather conditions, has a full view of vision, offers a touchless ring option, and is integrated with a full suite of professional security monitoring. 

Can a doorbell camera really prevent burglary and make you safer?

No security device can guarantee 100% protection — any claims otherwise are misleading.

However, research indicates that a video doorbell camera can help make your home safer and deter burglars. When paired with a professionally monitored security system, homes become even safer and smarter.

Do video doorbells do anything beyond basic security?

Yes! While video doorbells have an undeniable security benefit, you will find that they bring a whole lot more to the table than that. The big word here, in addition to safety, is convenience. When integrated with a smart home security system, video doorbells work with not only your alarm system, but also your smart door lock and connected smart lights.

What camera quality do I need from a video doorbell?

A high definition camera which shows clear, crisp images day or night is the goal. Look for a Full HD camera with at least 1440 X 1920 video resolution. High dynamic range and dual-band WiFi connectivity is also important for better stability, better range, and better performance.

Do video doorbells come with a free app?

Yes, many do! The benefit of mobile control for your video doorbell can’t be overstated. An app gives you easy access to your front door, whether you’re at home, at work, or on vacation. You can answer your door right from your smartphone, view live footage from the app, or even speak directly to visitors.

Some people say their video doorbell sends them a lot of annoying alerts. How do I avoid that?

Getting an alert every time a car drives past your house is not ideal. Plus, when every little thing sets off your doorbell, it can eat up your allotted video clips faster.

The best solution for this is a video doorbell with smart alerts, and video analytics. While many doorbells use motion detection (triggered by every car that drives by) smart video doorbells use adjustable ground zones for rapid people detection, ignoring vehicles and animals. In other words, you can choose to only receive an alert when a real person steps into your ground zone.

How much does a video doorbell let me see?

If you shop online — which many of us do these days — you’ll want a camera to provide a top-to-bottom view of your porch. This provides not only a full person view of your visitor, but also lets you see any packages at your front door. Look for a field of view (FOV) that is 150° vertical and 115° horizontal.

Is night vision important?

Whether it’s spotting an Uber driver or a lurker in your yard, it’s important to be able to see what’s happening outside your front door — day or night. Plus, some video doorbell cameras have infrared vision, so you never sacrifice video quality and detail when the sun goes down.

Do I need an existing hardwired doorbell?

Yes, most require a working hardwired doorbell to provide power to the video doorbell.

Do video doorbells require good WiFi?

Yes. Minimum 3 Mbps upload and download speed is required at the video doorbell mounting location. It’s easy to check your internet speed at speedtest.net.

How much do video doorbells cost?

The question of cost will be personal to each buyer, as different people may be willing to pay different amounts — either up front or over period of time (financing option).

Video Doorbells vary in cost from company to company, and newer technology with more features and better cameras may be more expensive. However, when bundled with a smart home security package, you may find smart security providers who are willing to work with you on upfront cost or running promotional offers.

Are video doorbells worth it?

If you can afford the initial cost, video doorbells are absolutely worth it. In many ways, it’s like having multiple smart devices in one! Plus, if you do a lot of online shopping, it’s an extra layer of security for those precious packages on your front step.

Something to keep in mind when shopping for a video doorbell — free isn’t always free. A customer who doesn’t want an agreement may choose to buy a device at a big box store, or online. However, you may discover after the fact that there is a separate charge for the bells and whistles you were hoping for, like push notifications, motion detection, and the ability to share and save videos.

If you have any more questions about video doorbells, video security, or how to protect your home, give us a call at 1.800.PROTECT (1.800.776.8328). We’re always here to help!